CDA’s zoo control bid draws civil society’s ire

The zoo, operating as Margalla Wildlife Rescue Centre, faces uncertain future

ISLAMABAD:

The civil society and environmentalists on Wednesday berated the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for its intention to repossess the erstwhile Islamabad Marghazar Zoo currently operating as the only Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre under the ambit of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB).

The CDA lately expressed its intention to regain control of the zoo from the IWMB. However, the Board already has plans to revive the closed zoo as a visitors’ information and educational centre on wildlife.

A civil society member running a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisation on the premises of the old zoo, requesting anonymity, said the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) 2020 verdict had clearly stated that the Islamabad Zoo should be permanently shut down and that management handed over to the IWMB and that IWMB should work towards prevention of cruelty to animals in ICT.

The Wildlife Rescue, a non-governmental organisation is also partnering with the IWMB to assist its operations at the Rescue Centre. He said that through donations from civil society, they were supporting IWMB in running the rescue centre as they have little government funding after the 2022 floods.

The wildlife enthusiast was of the view that the CDA already had the land possession of the Shakarparian National Park and the Lake View Park where it could conduct its endeavours pertaining to public education and recreation so why was it after the land of the zoo? The zoo is located next to the Margalla Hills National Park which is home to a thriving species of plants, insects, mammals, reptiles anteaters etc.

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He mentioned that many countries were banning and declaring wildlife captivity in zoos as illegal like Costa Rica whereas in the US and Pakistan, there were laws that declare wildlife captivity illegal. He regretted that the Parliament of Pakistan had approved the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2023 aimed at empowering the IWMB but it was not enacted so far as it was not being sent to the President for signing due to red tape.

Citing a similar example to the Islamabad Zoo which faced the worst administration and maltreatment of animals under the CDA regime before being shut down, he said that the King's Zoo in Nepal was converted into an education and wildlife rehabilitation centre after the end of the King's rule in Nepal.

When contacted, IWMB chairperson Rina Saeed Khan said the IHC verdict was not challenged by any stakeholder including the CDA after the judgment was passed in 2020 that made the decree a law which must be followed in all cases. However, in terms of repossession of the zoo which was out of the question as per the IHC verdict the relevant forum was the court, she added.

The zoo’s poor governance and maltreatment of animals brought a bad name to the country, whereas the Margalla Wildlife Centre has so far successfully rescued and rehabilitated approximately 381 animals since 2020, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, she added.

When contacted, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination official opined that the issue was communicated to the ministry, whereas the possession of the zoo could only be done through the court, otherwise, it would be an illegal occupation of the land.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2024.